Cough Medications for Dogs

Dogs cough for a variety of reasons. Generally, dogs cough because of irritation to their respiratory system. Some coughs are more serious. For example, a cough can be the result of early heart disease. This type of coughing will occur more commonly at night.

  1. Considerations

    • Treatment of a cough depends on the cause of the cough. For example, antibiotics are used to treat coughs caused by bacteria. A cough that is a result of heart disease would involve therapy and treatment to strengthen the heart.

    Effects

    • According to Vet Info, cough medicine for dogs serves the same purpose as cough medicine for humans. Essentially, the medication does not fight the infection, but rather provides the dog with some symptom relief.

    Types

    • Some common cough medications for dogs include Temaril, HomeoPet Cough and Nectadyn. These medications provide symptom relief from the flu, cold, chest congestion, bronchitis and environmental irritants. Human cough suppressants or medications should never be given to a dog, because they may be toxic.

    Warning

    • A veterinarian should examine a coughing dog. Sometimes a cough can be confused with wheezing, gagging or labored breathing. A veterinarian can properly identify the sound that is coming from the dog. According to Pet Education, if a dog has been coughing more than five days, a veterinarian should examine him or her.

    Diagnosis

    • Various tests can be used by veterinarians to understand the source of the cough. The most common test used is a chest x-ray, which is very useful. Other tests include a heartworm test, a fecal exam, urinalysis and a blood chemistry profile. If none of these tests are able to identify the cause of the cough, additional tests will be issued.